Mr. Bass, in a speech at Derby yesterday week, referred
very politely to a statement in these columns some little time back, to the effect that the average English wheat harvest might probably be reckoned at about 6,500,000 quarters, and rather questioned the data for making any estimate. We are well aware that they are very insufficient, but the Market Town Cora Sales, regularly given in the yearly statistical tables of Great Britaiu, are generally supposed by the best agricultural authorities to cover from two-thirds to three- fourths of the whole crop. It will be seen that the average sales amount to about 5,000,000 quarters, whence we estimated the average crop of wheat at 6,500,000 quarters, or, perhaps, 7,000,000 may be nearer the mark. There can be no doubt, however, that even with the present excellent crop much wheat will be imported,—probably, at least four or five millions of quarters,--but how much we shall never know till Mr. Hen- ley and the farmers consent to give us better agricultural statistics. The market sales of corn give but the roughest of approximations.
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